The spiritual and magickal properties of aromatic herbs, resins
and oils are described below. Essential oils are linked to more information on their
traditional and subtle properties. Use your browser's "back" button to return to
this page.

Palo Santo Wood -Bulnesia
sarmienti

Basic Powers - Good fortune,
matrimony Lore - Palo Santo or "Holy Wood" is a naturally
perfumed resinous wood from a tree indigenous to Argentina and Paraguay.
Palo Santo was known to the Incas as a spiritual remedy for purifying,
cleansing, and ridding misfortune. It is used today as an aphrodisiac, a
ceremonial incense, and a natural insect repellent. To burn, light a stick,
allow the wood to burn briefly - less than a minute, and then blow out the
flame. Enjoy the fragrant lingering smoke which results. Each stick may be
re-lit and used many times, unlike conventional incense which burns
completely after lighting. Palo Santo can also be burned on charcoal, or
slow simmered in water to release the natural resins.

Passion Flower - Passiflora
incarnata

Planet - Venus Element
- Water Basic Powers - Friendship, peace, sleep. Lore - Carry
passion flower to attract friends and increase popularity. Blend in oil for
anointing of sacred and ritual objects, for blessing, and for use during
prayer. Passion flower supports greater awareness associated with
channeling, clairvoyance and heightened spiritual states. It is used for
protection against negative and harmful vibrations that cause biological
stress which eminate from electronic devices such as computers, televisions,
and microwave ovens. It calms anger, substituting an understanding of the
human condition.

Patchouly - Pogostemun cablin

Planet - Venus .Element
- Earth .Basic Powers - Clairvoyance, protection, sensuality.
Scent - Heavy, dusty, earthy. Lore - Add patchouly to the bath to
attract love. Use in money and prosperity mixtures. To attract wealth, place
patchouly in purses and wallets, or place around the base of green candles.
As an herb of Venus, patchouly’s energy can enhance the ability to attract
what is desired. Burn in clairvoyance and divination incenses. Patchouly
increases psychic awareness and refines sensory perception. Assists persons
desiring to be more outgoing and social. Patchouly provides a link between
the spiritual and the physical levels. It is grounding but at the same time
can awaken a person’s spirituality. Essential
Oil

Pau d'Arco - Tabebuia
impetiginoso

Planet - Pluto
Basic Powers - Healing, Strengthening Lore - Pau
d’arco is also known as ipe roxo or taheebo tea. It consists of inner bark
of a magnificent tree, indigenous to the rainforests of South America, which
can grow to a height of 25 feet. Applied externally to treat skin disorders
and warts, Pau d’arco is thought to promote abatement of tumors. Pau d’arco
is suited to ritual healing and strengthening during the waning moon. It is
also used to empower the process known as Drawing Down the Moon. The energy
of Pau d’arco assists in the attainment of a co-existant balance in the web
of life.

Peppermint - Mentha piperita

Planet - Venus Element
- Air Basic Powers - Aphrodisiac, dreams, good luck, happiness,
love, draw prosperity, protection, psychic development, renewal, rest,
transformation. Scent - Cool, fresh, sweet, minty. Lore -
Peppermint is a popular ingredient in dream pillows to encourage pleasant
dreams. Inhale the fragrance of the crushed leaves if you have trouble
falling asleep. It is believed to allow glimpses of the future in dreams.
Peppermint has the sweetest scent of all the mints. It is used to ease
nervousness and headache. The presence of peppermint is thought to raise the
vibration of an area. Dried peppermint is added to healing incense and
burned to cleanse the house in winter. Astrological Sign - Cancer &
Aquarius Essential Oil

Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium

Planet - Venus Element - Earth Basic
Powers - Protection Scent - Strong, aromatic mint
Lore - Pennyroyal is a species of mint named by Pliny from
the Latin pulex (flea) for its reputed power of driving away fleas.
Highly aromatic, pennyroyal was recommended by physicians for hanging in
sleeping rooms. Pennyroyal tea is and old-fashioned remedy for menstrual
"derangements." Placed in the shoe, it is said to prevent weariness. Used as
a flower remedy for energy blockages in the throat chakra, pennyroyal
protects on the subtle energetic level. It helps mend damage to the aura,
especially holes caused by addictions. For those disturbed by the negative
thoughts of others, pennyroyal can reduce mental confusion.

Pine (Pinon) - Picea abies

Planet - Mars Element
- Air Basic Powers - Animals, clairvoyance, exorcism, fertility,
healing, money, protection, strength. Scent - Fresh, balsam-like,
woody and warm. Lore - Pine is burned during the winter months to
purify and cleanse the house. In Japan it is customary to place a pine
branch over the door of the house to ensure continual joy within. Pine
activates energies associated with the third eye or brow chakra and enhances
work with the animal kingdom. It supports the ability to sense the shape and
color of auras. Pine pinon is best collected during the ascension of Sirius,
the Dog Star. Incense burning with pine resin supports the nerves, giving
energy, courage and emotional strength. Astrological Sign - Aquarius Essential
Oil

Poppy Flower - Papaver
rhoeas

Planet - Moon
Element - Water
Basic Powers - Fertility, invisibility, love, luck, money, sleep.
Lore - This red poppy flower is also known as Corn Poppy.
Poppy seeds and flowers are used in mixtures designed to aid sleep. The
appearance of poppies on the battlefield gave rise to the idea that they
sprang from the blood of the fallen. Poppy flower essence is used to find a
balance in daily life between the spiritual and physical survival. It is
also for those who are fearful of expressing strong emotion.

Planet - Venus
Element - Water
Basic Powers - Love, protection Lore - Raspberry
supports the ability to have a child-like state of mind, incorporating joy,
fun of life, and a sense of relaxation. It is particularly useful for those
too intensely involved in spiritual practices. Raspberry enhances powers of
clairvoyance, especially in children. It also reduces sibling rivalry and
increases bonding between two individuals. Raspberry is cleansing to the
etheric and emotional bodies, and energizing to the root chakra. It is used
as a flower remedy to increase kind-heartedness in over-reactive and
insensitive people.

Rose Petals - Rosa spp.

Planet - Venus Element
- Water Basic Powers - Love, fertility, clairvoyance, tranquility.
Scent - Bittersweet, flowery, seductive. Lore - Rose buds and
petals tossed into a fire are said to bring good luck. Roses have
traditionally been used in love mixtures due to the flower’s association
with the emotions. Roses are sacred to Aphrodite, Goddess of love. Roses are
often added to healing incenses and sachets. When carried, they act as
personal protectants. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal
stress and household upheavals. When meditating, anointing the heart chakra
with rose oil assists in attaining the manifestation of love. Roses bring
with them the ability to learn the joy of giving selflessly rather than
expecting a return. Mineral association - Emerald
Essential Oil

Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis

Planet - Sun Element
- Fire Basic Powers - Aphrodisiac, courage, endings, knowledge,
prevent theft. Scent - Sweet, herby, fresh. Lore - Rosemary is
one of the oldest incenses and its powerful cleansing and purifying
vibrations eliminate negativity as it is burned. Place beneath the pillow to
drive away nightmares and under the bed to protect from harm. Rosemary hung
from the porch or doorpost will keep thieves from the house. A rosemary
infusion is used to wash the hands before healing work. To receive knowledge
or the answer to a question, burn rosemary on charcoal and smell its smoke.
Astrological Sign - Leo, Pisces, Scorpio Essential
Oil

Sage -
Salvia officinalis

Planet
- Mercury Element - Earth Basic Powers -
Clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony,
inspiration, longevity, meditation, peace, tranquility,
wisdom. Scent - Sweet, herby. Lore - Sage
carries the virtues of strength, mental health, and healing.
It is a significant religious herb among the tribes of North
America and is used for energy protection. Sage brings one in
touch with common sense, cleansing the thinking process and
clearing the mind of negative thoughts. It is the appropriate
incense for meetings of business and important decisions. Sage
strengthens the fifth chakra while promoting harmonious
communication. Sage is thought to be helpful during life
transitions, allowing one to step back and consider the
unfolding events. Astrological Sign - Virgo
and Leo

"Desert
Magic" Sage - Artemisia
tridentata

Lore
- "Desert Magic" sage or desert mugwort is a species of
mugwort that grows in the American southwest. Native Americans
consider it to be the plant of the coyote, and traditionally
use it to soothe demons. Providing protection against
illness-causing ghosts, "Desert Magic" sage is used to cleanse
body and spirit, and to remove negative influences from rooms.
Sweat lodge floors are covered with desert mugwort. The
fragrance of desert mugwort provides energy during times of
exhaustion and weakness. Burning desert mugwort can help
rediscover personal boundaries and limitations. Cleanse ritual and
ceremonial objects by holding them above the smoke.

"Sacred
Feather" Sage - Artemisia
fillifolia

Lore:"Sacred Feather" sage is a species of mugwort
and can be used in the same fashion as "Desert Magic" sage described above.

White Sage
- Salvia apiana

Planet
- Mercury Element - Earth Basic Powers -
Clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony,
inspiration, longevity, meditation, peace, tranquility,
wisdom. Scent - Sweet, herby. Lore - White sage
is one of the most popular types of sage for incense burning.
This powerful plant has leaves with a whitish hairy covering
that gives the plant its name. White sage is thought to be
effective for cleansing the atmosphere and is used by Native
Americans during healing rituals and sweat lodge ceremonies.
Tribes also burn sage to treat rheumatism. Sage smoke cleanses
indoor spaces and objects. The fresh, herbal fragrance
refreshes the mind, enhances memory, and supports the path to
wisdom and mental clarity. Astrological Sign: Virgo and
Leo

Dead Sea
Salt - Israel

Quartz
Crystals have subtle electromagnetic fields that interact
with our own. Similar to waterfalls, they have a negative
ionization polarity, producing good vibrations, and drawing
and absorbing the positive ionization, or stress, causing it
to be neutralized. Unlike a waterfall, a small stone can
become saturated with the unpleasant positive ions. It will no
longer feel as good or helpful, indicating that it needs
cleansing. Crystals kept near our fields, either worn on our
person or kept in our environment, will be affected by stress,
pollution, and hostility and may be refreshed by soaking in a
solution of pure water and Dead Sea Salt. Sea salt may
also be used in place of sand in smudging receptacles and
incense burners. Soft stones which might be damaged by soaking
in water can be vibrationally realigned to release accumulated
toxins and static by smudging them in the smoke of incense with a window
open or candle burning to receive what is released.

Sandalwood, Red - Pterocarpus
santalinus

Planet
- Moon Element - Air Basic Powers -
Clairvoyance, divination, good luck, meditation, protection,
success. Scent - Woody, sweet, clean. Lore -
Scatter sandalwood to clear a place of negativity. Burn for
protection and healing. Possesses high spiritual vibrations
especially when mixed with frankincense and burned at the full
moon. Mix with lavender to make an incense designed to conjure
spirits. In the orient, sandalwood is a funereal herb believed
to carry the soul into the next life. With sandalwood, deep
states of relaxation take place on the spiritual level.
Burning sandalwood incense can benefit healing work by
promoting a deeper relaxed state in the healer, increasing
spiritual energy. Sandalwood also relaxes the heart and throat
chakras. Mineral association - Emerald and turquoise

Planet -
Saturn Scent - walm, balsamic, frankincense-like.
Lore - Sandarac or Avar trees grow in Morocco and yield
a resin called sandarac or gum juniper, which is valued for
incense-burning. It’s warm, balsamic fragrance is calming and
relaxing. When burned in the evening, it eases insomnia caused
by tension and stress. Sandarac can be burned to neutralize
negative energy and illness-causing tension. Because the resin
creates a great deal of smoke, other ingredients are usually
mixed with it. Folk recipes combine coriander seeds, benzoin
and mastic. Sandarac is often used as a fixative in woody or oriental
perfumes. It’s name derives from the Assyrian words for "as bright as the
moon." Aristotle thought that it was produced by bees.

DISCLAIMER: This table is for information purposes only. Consult with a
health care professional before using any herbs, especially during pregnancy.